Warren Smith (singer)
Warren Smith ( born February 7, 1932, Humphreys County, Mississippi; † 31 January 1980) was an American rockabilly and country music singer. He is mainly known for the song Rock'n'Roll Ruby.
- 2.1 Singles
- 2.2 albums
Life
Childhood and youth
Warren Smith grew after the divorce of his parents to live with his grandparents in Louise, Mississippi. In 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Air Force. The greatest period of his military service he spent in San Antonio, Texas. Meanwhile, he used every spare minute to play guitar or sing. After discharge from the Air Force Smith moved to Memphis, Tennessee.
Career
There he soon became a member of the Snearly Ranch Boys. Stan Kesler, session musician at Sun Records and the band member Snearly Ranch Boys, mediated Smith and the band at Sam Phillips, owner of Sun. Phillips took over the group after a short prelude in early 1956 under contract. Smith's first session took place with the Boys Ranch Snearly on 5 February 1956. In this session he played the music composed by Johnny Cash Rock'n'Roll Ruby along with a I'd Rather Be Safe Than Sorry. The record sold over 68,000 times and rose to the top of the Memphis charts. He bought a new Cadillac with the inscription Warren Smith - The Rock'n'Roll Ruby Man and formed a new band consisting of Al Hopson (guitar), Marcus Van Story ( bass) and Jimmy Lott (drums). Together with other Sun - Stars such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison, he launched a tour and joined the Big D Jamboree in Dallas KRLD.
His follow-up single Ubangi Stomp could not repeat the initial success. Due to the rise of Jerry Lee Lewis and his next releases were failures because its hits such as Great Balls of Fire came out shortly after his plates. Smith's contract with Sun ran out, and Smith moved to California. There he became a member of KFI Town Hall Party, one of the most well-known radio and television shows of the time. Under the pseudonym Warren Baker he taught Warner Bros. Records out three unsuccessful singles. The Liberty Records, he released some country tracks, even his first single went to number five of the Hot Country Songs. Smith seemed to have finally found their way to fame, especially since almost all of his subsequent singles came in the top 20. But Smith's contract was - not extended - as at Sun. In the spring of 1964, he stopped there on his last session. The continuing failure of Smith consumed alcohol excessively and was dependent tablets. The result was a car accident, from which he fully recovered. After a 18- month stay in prison Smiths fail marriage. He had now turned his back on the music.
But Smith found work as a security director at a company in Longview, Texas. He married again and played at the newly formed record company of a friend, a single one. In the 1970s, he released an album. 1977 Smith joined then the first time at the Sun Sound Show in London. In 1978 and 1979 he toured Europe. 20 years after his unsuccessful career as a rockabilly singer, he had now built in Europe in the rockabilly community a large fan base.
Warren Smith passed away on January 31, 1980 of a heart attack at the age of only 46 years. For the coming year 1981, a further tour of Europe was planned. Smith was taken to the rockabilly music in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame because of his achievements.
Discography
Singles
- The Darkest Cloud
- Dear John
- Do I Love You
- Hank Snow Medley
- Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache
- Stop The World I'll Jump Off
- Who Took My Baby
- Old Lonesome Feeling
- Tell Me Who
- Tonight Will Be The Last Night To
- Uranium rock
- I Like Your Kinda Love